FINAL SECONDS PLAY OF LIFTS MUSTANGS PAST HERALDS
Orwell, Ohio- The Grand Valley Mustangs narrowly escaped with a 63-62 victory over the Saint John Heralds in a nail-biting high school basketball game on Friday night at Grand Valley High School. Both teams brought their best effort, and the packed gymnasium was treated to a contest filled with highlight-worthy moments and high drama.
First Half
Grand Valley started strong, opening the game with an 18-9 lead after the first quarter behind a balanced offensive attack. Saint John rallied in the second quarter, led by senior Vin Narducci’s spectacular buzzer-beating, one-legged three-pointer to close the half. The momentum-shifting shot cut the Mustangs’ lead to 29-23 heading into the locker room.
Second Half
Saint John carried their newfound energy into the third quarter, outscoring Grand Valley 18-12 to pull within two points. However, the Mustangs closed the quarter with their own clutch play as Sammy Goforth drained a three-pointer in the final seconds, giving Grand Valley a slight edge heading into the final period.
The fourth quarter was a high-stakes battle, with both teams trading baskets. Narducci continued to carry the Heralds, finishing with a game-high 22 points, while teammate Dyln Newsome added 19, including a crucial three-pointer with 10.7 seconds left to bring Saint John within one, 63-62.
Final Moments
The final moments of the game were nothing short of chaotic. Following Newsome’s three-pointer, Grand Valley turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds play, giving Saint John a chance to take the lead. The Heralds inbounded the ball, but the Mustangs’ smothering defense forced a jump ball with 4.7 seconds remaining. Saint John retained possession but was unable to capitalize as Grand Valley’s defense disrupted the inbound pass, allowing Braden Hart to secure the loose ball and dribble out the clock.
Scoring Summary
Grand Valley Mustangs
- Carter Turk: 21 points
- Solly Schultz: 13 points
- Braden Hart: 11 points
- Sammy Goforth: 8 points
- Payton Plizga: 6 points
- Ben Cozad: 4 points
Saint John Heralds
- Vin Narducci: 22 points
- Dyln Newsome: 19 points
- Chase Newsome: 8 points
- Aaron Wychock: 8 points
- Grayson Petros: 3 points
- Donald Crawford: 2 points
The Grand Valley Mustangs (12-1) will hit the road for a matchup against Fairport on January 18, while the Saint John Heralds (4-6) will look to bounce back at home against the Maplewood Rockets on January 21.